Sticky, messy, gloopy, gloppy…these are just a few reasons why so many people avoid rubbing, spraying, or slathering on a protective layer of sunscreen before heading outdoors. They just don’t enjoy the tactile aspect of sun protection.
But, what if sunscreen application could be completely avoided – with a pill?
That’s the promise of sunscreen pills, a new set of products that claim to protect your body from the harmful effects of the sun’s rays from the inside out. Just how do these sunscreen pills claim to work? By popping a daily pill, they promise to protect the skin from the damaging effects of free radicals and improve the body’s tolerance to UV rays, typically via a proprietary blend of antioxidants and vitamins.
Too good to be true? Too right!
The Food and Drug Administration recently sent warning letters to four different companies selling sunscreen pills, ordering them to stop illegally marketing the “oral dietary supplements” that claim to protect against sunburns and the risk of skin cancer.
“We’ve found products purporting to provide protection from the sun that aren’t delivering the advertised benefits… and make unproven drug claims about protecting consumers from the harms that come from sun exposure without meeting the FDA’s standards for safety and effectiveness,” wrote FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D. in the official press release sent out about the issue. “Instead they’re misleading consumers, and putting people at risk. There’s no pill or capsule that can replace your sunscreen.”
The companies (and their respective products) targeted by the FDA include: GliSODin Skin Nutrients’ Advanced Skin Brightening Formula, Napa Valley Bioscience’s Sunsafe Rx, Pharmacy Direct’s Solaricare, and Sunergized LLC’s Sunergetic. The four companies were directed to correct all violations associated with their products and to review their product websites and labeling to ensure the pill claims do not violate federal law.
‘…They’re misleading consumers, and putting people at risk. There’s no pill or capsule that can replace your sunscreen.’
Scott Gottlieb and the FDA aren’t the only ones concerned about the negative effects sunscreen pills could have on consumer health. Two weeks ago, New York Senator Chuck Schumer turned the heat up on sunscreen pills and called on the FDA to pull the pills from retail shelves and online e-commerce sites.
“Sunscreen pills are a fraud. Right now thousands and thousands of Americans are taking these pills and not putting on sunscreen. And they are endangering themselves,” Schumer said. “Failing to effectively rein in these marketing attempts would be a glaring error by the FDA and so they must turn up the enforcement heat before consumers literally get burned.”
Retailers are thinking twice about sunscreen pills
Manufacturers are heeding the warning bells sounded by the FDA and legislators like Schumer. Most notably, mega-retailer Walmart recently removed sunscreen pills from their offerings, a move Schumer congratulated. However, sunscreen pills are still available for sale on a wide variety of websites, which means these oral supplements continue to pose a potential risk to consumers who accept inflated claims at face value.
As the temperatures shoot upwards, and sunny summer days call for an increased need for sun protection, the battle over sunscreen pills will be sure to heat up even more. In the meantime, it’s best to remember that one of the ultimates defenses against skin cancer, sunburn, and premature skin aging is – and always will be – reputably formulated and manufactured sunscreen products.
